Universal magnetic clarifier



Dec. 4, 1956 e. B. FUREY UNIVERSAL MAGNETIC'CLARIFIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1954 k "3 EZ ELTLYZTCJT H N George B. Turey r fiffzi Dec. 4, 1956 G. B. FUREY 2,772,778

UNIVERSAL MAGNETIC CLARIFIER Filed April 16, 1954. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, I956 G. B. FUREY 2,772,778

UNIVERSAL MAGNETIC CLARIFIER Filed April 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fizzy-5 Georye B. Ezrey 2,772,778 1 JNIVERSAL MAGNETIC CLAnIFiER George B. Furey, Lebanon, IngL, 'asjsigno'r ito Indiana Commercial Filters Corporation, a corporation of Indiana 7 Application April 16, "1954, Serial No. 423587 3 Claims. (c1. zin -1.5

This invention relates to improvements in a universal magnetic'clarifier, and more particularly tov a magnetic clarifier of the type ernbodying a rotary pickup element operable in a tank through which liquid carrying magnetic foreign particles flows from one end to the other, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with the clarification of coolants or cutting oils used with cutting and grinding machines, although the invention will have many otheruses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of magneticclariv fiers have been developed for the purpose of removing magnetic foreign particles from liquid, and in most cases these formerly known-devices have been unsatisfactory undernumerous conditions for various reasons. For example, in all such magnetic clarifiers of which I am aware, the userhas been given no choice as to the dis position of the clarifier; i. e., the clarifier was made with an inlet at one location, and an outlet at another location, and it had to be positioned in accordance with the disposition of the inlet and outlet, even though-it might be more convenient and satisfactory to the user to have the ends of the device reversed in position. In other cases, it might be desirable to'have the magnetic clarifier disposed endwise relatively to-other machinery because that would be the only positio'n in which adequate room was available, but nevertheless Withformerly knownstructures of such construction as to'give the user no choice as to disposition,roo rn wouldhave to bemade'for a particular disposition of the clarifier, r'egardless'lof the convenience or inconvenience. Also, magnetic clarifiers of the type heretofore known were most' frequently large and cumbersome in size and objectionably e'ripe'nsive in construction. Some of that expense in construction was necessitated by the use of ba files in the liquid tank, by the use of an irregularly surfacedmagnetic pickup drum in which parts were of different diameter than other parts, by virtue of a complicated scraper or discharge chute adapted to fit a non-uniform drum, and iby virtue of many other parts needing fine oraccurate machining. Also, devices of this type heretofore usedresulted in an objectionable amount of the liquid being clarified being lost by carry over 'with the removed foreignparticles into the discharge chute.

With the foregoin g in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a magnetic clarifierthat is considerably reduced in size and yet possesses a very high capacity in gallons per minute of purified liquid.

A further and important object of the instant invention resides in'the provision of a nagneticclarifier that may be termed universal by way of providing the-user 'with a choice ofpositions in which the device may be mounted in order to meet the exigencies of particular circumstances. In other words, while the device must be mounted-upright, there is substantially no limit as to the position of the longitudinal axis-of the device, since that may form any diameter of a complete cir'cle. a I

Another object of the invention resides in,'the provision nited States Patent M 2,772,778 Patented Dec. 1 ?)56 of a magnetic clarifierso constructed as to give the ultimate user a-choic'e of a plurality of locations for'the inlet connection, and'a choice of a plurality of locations for the outletconnection.

More specifically, it'is an object of the instantinvention to provide a magnetic clarifier in which the inlet connection-for contaminated liquid may be disposed on either side or the top of the housing or tank, and theoutlet connection for clarified liquid may be disposed near the other end of the tank oneither side or the bottom, asthe user may deem-most expedient.

Also'a feature of the invention resides in the provision of a'magnetic clarifier in which the discharge, chute may be located so as to'overhang and discharge to either side of the tank.

Still a'further feature ofthe instant invention resides inthe provisionof -a magnetic clarifier of the type'having 1 a rotary-pickup drum operating in a tank of contaminated liquid, and so constructed that the rotary pickup drum may rotate in eitherdirection as may be desired by the user.

Also an object ofthe invention resides in the provision of a magnetic clarifier embodying a rotarypickup drum, and including means to automatically preventcarry'over of liquid along with the removal of foreign particles picked up-on thedrum.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a magnetic clarifier embodying a rotary pickup drum highly economical in construction, and having a smooth external surface of substantially uniform diameter'througjhout.

A further feature of the invention resides inthe provision of a magnetic clarifierembodying a tank for contamina-ted'liquid,"andwhich tank may have a smooth interiorsurface, devoid of *baflles or the like, but which is so constructed as to insure adequate'removalof magnetic foreign particles from the liquid passing throughthe tank.

Still another object of the inventionresides' in the provision of ar'nag'rie-ti-cclarifier very economical in constructi'on, long lived,a'nd in which but very few parts need be accurately'iiiachine'd, only a'relativel'y rough'fini'sh bea ing required on allother parts.

'While'sor'ne of'themfore' salient features, characteristics .and"advantages"of the instant invention have been above'p'oint'd' out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures,t'akenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevationalvie'w of'a magnetic clarifier embodying features and principles of the instant invention; I V

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view through the structure of Fig. 'l, taken substar'itially as indicated by the line II i1' .of Fig. '1, lookingin the direction of the arrows, andwith'parts shown in elevation and broken away;

Figure 3 is an endview of the clarifier taken from the. right-hand side' of Fig, 1,;with the drivingmotor removed as; purposes'of clarity;

Figur e'4 is an end view of the magnetic pickup drum alone, taken-from the 'left hand end of that drum as seen in Fig. 2; and Figure 5 is afragmentary longitudinal vertical 'sectional View" through the pickup drum alone.

As shown on thed-rawings:

'In the illustrated embodimentfof the instant invention,

The tank itself comprises a bottom, side walls, end walls, and a top 6 over the inlet end, and a top portion 7 over the outlet end, the tank being open at the top between these portions 6 and 7. This tank is preferably one piece, and may satisfactorily be made in a single casting, utilizing a sand core. With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the side Walls of the tank converge inwardly as indicated at 8 in Fig. 2 throughout the open topped portion of the tank, and the bottom slopes upwardly toward the outlet end as indicated at 9 in Fig. 1. This provides an interior Ventu'ri-like shape to the tank throughout that portion of the tank in which the actual clarifying of the liquid occurs. At the end of the Venturi-like wall arrangement, there is an integral rib 10 upstanding from the bottom and extending inwardly from each side to define a shallow bafiie or weir'separating the cleaning zone from the outlet compartment 12 from which clarified liquid is removed.

No specific inlet opening for contaminated liquid, or outlet opening for clarified liquid, has been illustrated in the drawings, because the structure of the tank embodies features making the instant invention substantially universal as to its mounting position. When a clarifying device of this character is to be associated with other machinery, either already in operation or being manufactured to occupy a specific floor space, convenience in the mounting of the clarifier is a decided attribute. In some cases it may be desirable to have the inlet end of the clarifier directly facing a certain piece of the equipment, with the outlet end extending directly away therefrom, while in other instances it may be desirable to have the magnetic clarifier parallel another piece of equipment, but under certain circumstances there may be a choice as to which side of the clarifier is nearest the machine and which is the direction of flow relatively to the machine.

To that end, the tank 1 is so designed as to give the user a choice of locations for both the inlet and the outlet connections. At the inlet end thereof, the tank is provided with a thickened portion or boss on one side as indicated at 13, another on the opposite side as indicated at 14, and one on the top as indicated at (Fig. 3). Preferably the side bosses are externally faced as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, and this external facing might be provided on the top boss as well if so desired. That provides a location for an inlet connection at either side or the top of the tank, whichever may be most convenient to the user. When ordering the clarifier, the user may specify where he desires the inlet connection to be, and one of the bosses 13, 14 or 15 is drilled and tapped to accommodate the inlet pipe.

At the outlet end thereof, the tank is provided with similar bosses or pillows, as indicated at 16 on one side, 17 on the other side (Fig. 2), and at 18 on the bottom (Fig. 1). Thus, the user may specify whether the outlet is to be on one side or the other, or from the bottom of the compartment 12 in the tank, and that respective boss or pillow will be drilled and tapped to accommodate the outflow pipe for clarified liquid.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the longitudinal axis of the clarifier may be disposed as any diameter of a complete circle; i. e., while the tank must be mounted upright, there is no limit as to the lateral disposition or location of the device.

Also preferably cast integral with the tank 1 is a pair of pillow blocks 19 and 20 for supporting a driving motor 21 which may be any suitable form of electric motor. Another pair of spaced pillow blocks 22 and 23 are provided centrally of the inner end portions of the covers 6 and 7 to carry journal means for a squeegee roll as will more fully later appear herein.

The ends of the tank are apertured as indicated at 24 and 25 to provide shaft openings, the opening 25 at the outlet end of the tank being tapered as clearly seen in Fig. 2. This tapered opening effectively accommodates a ball-like bearing 26, which may suitably be made of Phosphor bronze. The bearing is maintained in position by a suitable cap 27 bolted or equivalently secured to the end of the tank. Inside this hearing is journaled the reduced end of a main shaft 28, the opposite end of which is reduced and provided with a cross pin 29 engaged in suitable opposed slots in a collar 30 to which the shaft 31 of the motor is pinned as indicated at 32. A collar 33 is bolted or equivalently secured to the incoming end of the tank around the motor shaft, and an oil seal 34 prevents leakage at this point, there being a similar oil seal at the opposite end of the shaft as well. As stated above, the motor may operate to rotate the shaft in either direction.

The magnetic pickup drum, generally indicated by numetal 35, is carried on the shaft 28 inside the casing in the open topped region thereof. This pickup drum is simple and economical in construction, and includes a cylindrical core 36 through which the shaft extends, this core being annularly grooved .to accommodate a plurality of disk-like members made of magnetic material, there being four of these members in the illustrated instance, designated by numerals 37, 38, 39 and 40, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. Between the disks 37 and 38 is a cylindrical permanent magnet 41 and between the disks 39 and 40 is another similar cylindrical permanent magnet 42. The outer rims of the disks are annularly notched to accommodate inset cylindrical drum sleeves 43 and 44 of nonmagnetic material, whereby the entire outer surface of the drum is even, in that the same diameter prevails throughout the length of the drum. At the ends of the drum are caps 45 and 46, each apertured to accommodate the shaft 28, and these end plates are the only portion of the entire pickup drum assembly that need be accurately machined adjacent the shaft.

In order to maintain the drum assembled, there are a plurality of through bolts 47, there being three such bolts equally spaced in the illustrated instance. These bolts extend through the end plates, and through the disks 37, 38, 39 and 40, inside the cylinder magnets 41 and 42, and the magnets are maintained in proper position by the three bolts, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. The entire pickup drum assembly is preferably made of non-magnetic material, with the exception of the disks 37, 38, 39 and 40, and the permanent magnets 41 and 42. Also, preferably, the magnets are so arranged that the outer ends thereof are of like polarity, and the inner ends are of like polarity, thereby setting up two separate magnetic fields one extending externally from the disk 37 to the disk 38, and the other extending externally from the disk 40 to the disk 39, so that the pickup of magnetic particles or swarf is substantially uniform over the entire surface of the drum, with the exception that the swarf will be heavier of course where the rims of the disks are exposed on the surface of the drum.

The pickup drum 35 may be secured in proper location on the shaft 28 by means of a collar 48 at each end thereof anchored to the shaft by a set screw 49, and keyed to the adjacent end plate of the drum by means of a dowel pin 50 or in an equivalent manner.

In assembling the structure, it is a simple expedient to mount the motor on the end of the tank, with the motor shaft projecting inside the tank and secured to the sleeve 30, after which the collar 33 is anchored in place. The end cap 27 is of course removed, and the shaft 28 is inserted through the aperture 25, the drum is dropped through the open top of the tank, the shaft passed through the drum and entered into the sleeve 30. The drum is locked at the desired location on the shaft, and the end cap 27 is secured in place;

In order to remove swarf accumulating on the drum during operation, from either side of the structure, an identical mounting for a discharge chute is provided on each side of the tank 1. Each mounting comprises a pair of spaced lugs 51 and 52 horizontally tapped to accommodate a thumb bolt 53, and the lugs are vertically bored to accommodate the legs 54 of a pivot rod 55 on which a discharge chute 56 is carried by means-- of one or more stirrups 57. Preferably, the chute 5G is=urged inwardly into contact with the pickup drum by means of a spring 58 carried on the pivot rod 55. It is a simple expedient to loosen the thumb bolts 53' and remove the discharge chute assembly from one side of the tank, and transfer it over to the other side as indicated by dottedlin'es in Fig; 3, should it be on the wrong side to start with. The selected disposition of the discharge chute is, of course, in keeping with the universal character of the instant invention.

Mounted on the aforesaid centrally s os-3d pillow. blocks 22 and 23 are a pair of brackets apertured to: accommodate the shaft ends of a squeegeenoll 6%. Suit-- able set screws 61 may be utilized to governthefpressure: of the squeegee roll against the pickup drum in' an ob-- vious manner. The squeegee roll contacts the tone-lenient:

of the pickup drum, and rolls by contact with t'n drum; 7

The purpose of the squeegee roll 6%? is to eliminate" the carrying over of liquid along with the discharged s'warf sliding down the chute 56. Looking at Fig. 3, and asi-- suming that the drum is rotating counterclockwisethe swarf will be picked up and carried beneath the roll 60 which effectively holds back all liquid, but does not retai d the movement of the swarf magnetically held to the drum and that swarf readily passes underneath the squeegee roll until it contacts the bottom of the discharge chute, which is set back a trifle from the upstanding side edges as seen clearly in Fig. 1. The visible portion of the drum to the right of the squeegee roll as viewed in Fig. 3 will be occluded by a mass of adhering liquid, especially if that liquid is oil, but to the left of the squeegee roll the drum will be clean and shiny except for the accumulated swarf. The squeegee roll 60 may satisfactorily be made of soft rubber or equivalent material.

In operation, the instant invention is extremely simple and effective. Liquid is introduced into the tank through a selected inlet 13, 14, or 15, and flows toward the opposite end ofthe tank. The drum rotates in the desired direction, magnetically picks up any magnetic responsive foreign particles contained in the liquid, carries them around beneath the squeegee roll which holds back any traveling liquid, and deposits the swarf into the discharge chute 56. It will be noted that by virtue of the Venturilike construction of the tank in the pickup region, no battles or other means to agitate the liquid arenecessary. The venturi effect provided by the shape of the tank with the liquid flowing lengthwise of the tank and the drum rotating transversely thereto causes the liquid to be given a swirling or screw action which materially aids in removing substantially all foreign particles from the liquid. The cleansed liquid passes into the outlet compartment 12, and then exits through a selected outlet 16, 17 or 18, as the 6 case may be. With the instant invention, a tank having: an overall length of between 14 and 15" and an overall. width between 7" and 8", with an overall depth between:

4" and 5", will effectively clarify liquid at the rate of 20 gallons per minute, which capacity includes a safety fac vtor to insure against liquid splashing out of the tank.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the 1 novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a magnetic clarifier, a tank having an inlet for contaminated liquid at one end and an outlet for cleaned liquid at the other end and through which the liquid flows lengthwise of the tank, a Shaft attendingthrough said tank lengthwise thereof for rotatio'riiii-a;direction substantially transverse to the direction of liquid flew, a magnetic pick- 7 "up drum of uniform diameter on said shaft, the si'rle and bottom walls of the tank converging towardthe outlet end, said drum being mounted on said shaft within. the region encompassed by said converging walls.

2. In a magnetic clarifier, a tank through which liquid. flows having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other; end, said tank having side and bottom walls converging; toward the end having the outlet with the narrowest area: at an intermediate region, a rotary magnetic pickup drum: of uniform diameter with at least a portion thereof in said region, and said drum being mounted on an axis extendeing longitudinally of said tank.

3. In a magnetic clarifier, a tank through which liquidi .ilows having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, said tank having side and bottom walls converging; toward the end having the outlet with the narrowest area at an intermediate region, a rotary magnetic pick-up drum; of uniform diameter with at least a portion thereof in: said region, the widest portion of said tank etxending be-- yond the end of said drum, and said drum being mounted. on an axis extending longitudinally of said tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,888 Richter -2 Nov. 25, 1941' 7 ,4 7,221 Cox et al. Mar. 2, 1948 2,522,556. Wuensch Sept. 19, 1950- 2,535',719 Blind Dec. 26, 1950 ,5 4,515 Vogel "Aug. 14, 1951 2,597,561 7 Blind May 20, 1952 2,678,729 Spodig May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 78,392 Austria Sept. 25, 1919 1,022,864 France -1... Mar. 11,. 1953 

